Wheatley Institute Released Lived Religion Survey
A new nationwide survey highlights how spiritual habits shape daily life for most Americans.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Religion — General
Live Poll
Do you feel that faith and spiritual beliefs are becoming more common in American life?
The Wheatley Institute has released its Survey of Lived Religion, uncovering deep spiritual engagement across the United States. The findings suggest that personal faith and a belief in a higher power remain central to the lives of most Americans today.
Why it matters
The research provides a more nuanced look at American spirituality by moving beyond traditional metrics like church attendance. It suggests that faith frequently influences individual decision-making and identity more than political ideologies do.
A significant 90% of Americans believe in God or a higher power, while 75% place importance on religion. Additionally, 73% of respondents reported feeling that God has spoken to them.
The players
Wheatley Institute
Located at Brigham Young University, this organization focuses on academic research concerning faith and family.
The details
Researchers developed questions to measure how daily life incorporates spirituality, finding that 43% of people thank God multiple times daily. The study also revealed that 40% of Americans read the Bible in the past week, and a majority of religiously unaffiliated individuals remain open to existence after death.
Timeline
The survey results were released last week.
Half of Christians did not attend Easter services last year.
Some Americans changed decisions based on spiritual impressions over the past month.
Three additional reports will be released in the months ahead.
Culture Shift
This research follows a pattern set by the Pew Research Center's religious identity tracking by documenting the gap between formal institutional affiliation and personal spiritual practice. It illustrates a long-term societal trend where internal spiritual life persists even as formal religious participation evolves.
Readers may find that these findings reflect their own daily habits of prayer or scripture study. The data encourages individuals to consider how their personal spiritual impressions influence their daily choices and long-term goals.
The takeaway
The study suggests that faith in America remains a quiet, daily force for most people regardless of their formal institutional ties. Implementing a moment for reflection or gratitude can be a practical way to integrate these observed spiritual habits into one's own routine.
What happens next
The Wheatley Institute plans to publish three additional reports detailing further aspects of the survey data in the coming months.
Further reading
For more context on current trends, explore the Religion — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deseret News.
Live Poll
Do you feel that faith and spiritual beliefs are becoming more common in American life?
